Journalist's Guide


Covering the Courts
6

Court Records
6

Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC)
7

Criminal Files
8

Civil Files
9

Juvenile Cases
9

Exhibits
9

Sealed Records/Files
10

Practical Tips for Covering the Courts
10

Government Relations and Public Affairs Division
12

Knowing Your Limits
13

Access to non-governmental places
13

Public Places
13

Crime and Disaster Scenes
13

Private homes
14

Public institutions
15

Restaurants and bars
15

Other private businesses
15

Misrepresentation and Impersonation
15

Misrepresentation
16

Impersonation
16

Receipt of documents
16

Some Practical Newsgathering Tips
17

Obtain consent
17

Seek legal advice
17

Develop a plan
17

The Maryland Shield Law
19

Cameras in Maryland Courtrooms
20

The Maryland State Court System and its Agencies
22

Overview
22

District Court
22

Orphans’ Court
23

Circuit Court
23

Family Division (Circuit Court)
23

Juvenile Court
23

Court of Special Appeals
24

Court of Appeals
25

Judges’ Qualifications and Terms in Office
26

Orphans’ Court
26

District Court
26

Circuit Court
26

Court of Special Appeals/Court of Appeals
26

Commission on Judicial Disabilities
27

Attorney Grievance Commission
27

Maryland Tax Court
27

Office of Administrative Hearings
28

A View from the Bench
29

The Criminal Process
31

Overview
31

The Process
31

The Trial Process
35

Sentencing
36

Appeals
36

Offices of the Maryland State’s Attorneys
38

Overview
38

Office of the Maryland Public Defender
40

Overview
40

Office of the Maryland Attorney General
42

Other specialized units of the Office include:
43

The Office also is the legal adviser to virtually every agency in each of the three branches of state government and can be reached at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov.
43

Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor
44

Juvenile Court
45

Steps to Resolving a Case in Juvenile Court
46

Special Rules for Juvenile Court
47

Media Guidelines for Covering Juvenile Cases
48

The Civil Process
50

Overview
50

The Complaint
50

The Response
50

Discovery (learning about the other side’s case)
51

Motions
52

Alternative Dispute Resolution/Settlement
53

Trial
53

A Word about Trial Objections
55

Federal Court System
57

United States District Court
57

Office of the United States Attorney
57

Office of the Federal Public Defender
58

Open Meetings Act
59

Maryland Public Information Act
62

Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance
65

The Law of Libel and Invasion of Privacy
67

Elements of Libel
67

Defenses to a Claim for Libel
68

Fair Report Privilege
69

The Fault Standards: Negligence or Actual Malice
69

A Brief Look at Copyright Law
75

Sources of Law
77

Appendix
79

Glossary
95

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